We’ve all done it: you line up a childhood favorite or an erstwhile blockbuster hype, then sit through it cringing in shock. What was funny, exciting, or revolutionary at the time now comes across as cringeworthy, tone-deaf, or downright offensive. Whether it’s wobbly CGI, outdated gags, or blind spots regarding culture that particularly stand out now, these movies keep reminding us that not everything gets better with age. Here are 10 films that haven’t held up over time—anywhere from slightly cringe-worthy to straight-up shocking.
10. The Flash (2023)
A superhero movie about retconning history should’ve been future-proof. Instead, The Flash was dated before audiences even got to see it. Delayed productions, sloppy controversies around Ezra Miller, and outlandish CGI re-creations of iconic actors made it crash and burn. By the time of its release, Warner Bros. had already abandoned this take on the DC universe—so it felt like a relic on day one.
9. The Mummy Returns (2001)
The movie’s legacy is less about Brendan Fraser’s charm and more about… that CGI Scorpion King. The Rock’s debut as a half-human, half-scorpion creature looked like it came from a bargain-bin video game cutscene. In 2001, audiences tolerated it. Two decades later, it’s infamous meme material.
8. The Faculty (1998)
Half alien-invasion movie, half teen rom-com, The Faculty is a ’90s time capsule—and not for the better. The retro slang and cardboard cutouts are cringeworthy, but the issue is its clumsy handling of LGBTQ issues. The “fake lesbian” misfit subplot is presented as a relief when she is revealed to be straight, which in the present feels clumsy and dismissive.
7. American Pie (1999)
Once the teen comedy poster child for raunchy humor, American Pie hasn’t stood the test of time. That plot where Jim and his buddies clandestinely stream a girl getting undressed? Yeah… no longer funny. Even cast members acknowledge it wouldn’t work today. What was once sold as goofy fun now feels like a how-not-to book for respecting personal boundaries.
6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Yes, Indy provides action. No, the movie does not provide cultural sensitivity. Chock-a-block with stereotypes and insensitive representations of Indian culture (not to mention its notorious dinner scene), the film was banned in India on its release. What audiences used to dismiss as “exotic adventure” now sounds outright problematic.
5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Audrey Hepburn might be immortal, but Mickey Rooney’s caricature of Mr. Yunioshi ain’t. Universally reviled as one of Hollywood’s most egregious racist caricatures, the character is an embarrassing reminder of how normalized such an image once was. Rooney and director Blake Edwards later regretted it as well.
4. Sixteen Candles (1984)
John Hughes codified the ’80s teen film, but Sixteen Candles hasn’t aged well. From the perfunctory handling of date rape to the stereotypical Asian character Long Duk Dong, it’s a primer on how comedy used to punch down on marginalized communities. What used to be funny now simply makes viewers cringe.
3. Gone with the Wind (1939)
A classic of Hollywood’s Golden Age—but also a blatant whitewash of slavery and the Civil War. Its nostalgic, idealized portrait of the Old South has long been subject to scathing attack, and in 2020, HBO Max even briefly withdrew it. While some regard it as a cinematic landmark, others regard it as an artifact best explained, not revered.
2. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
This movie’s legacy only declined with time, not due to the story itself, but because of what transpired off-screen. Actress Maria Schneider divulged that the notorious rape scene was not scripted and traumatized her, relating she felt “a little raped” by Marlon Brando as well as the director. It is a dark reminder that actual exploitation cannot be justified as “just art.”
1. The Birth of a Nation (1915)
No movie has aged more calamitously—or done worse harm. Feted in its day for its technical innovations, D.W. Griffith’s film also romanticized the Ku Klux Klan and was used as a tool of propaganda that directly contributed to the Klan’s rebirth. It’s not only outdated; it’s harmful, and a sobering reminder of the way in which cinema can be used to perpetuate hate.
Rewatching old movies can be fun—but it can also be jarring. Some films show us how far we’ve come, while others remind us how blind pop culture once was to serious issues. From bad CGI to deeply harmful stereotypes, these 10 prove that not every classic deserves a comeback.